December 24, 2020

Deputy Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor U Min Lwin addressed a virtual event held yesterday to mark the conclusion of the First Aid for All Training Project (Phase 1), targeting youths and women from townships in Rakhine State.
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister said that the art of first aid is indeed noble, and by serving first aid to those who are suffering from injuries, loss of lives could be prevented.
He noted that these trainings are being held for the benefit of youths and women from Rakhine State, and that although all was set to commence the trainings since August of this year, due to the situation of COVID-19, they could be only held virtually in December. He highlighted the fact that regardless of being an online training, due to qualified instructors and the interest shown by trainees, the training was a great success.
He expressed his trust that those who have completed this training will be of a benefit to their wards, villages, and communities with the first aid education that they have gained, urging them to share with their communities whatever they have learnt. He said he believed that social harmony would be enhanced by furthering understanding and trust among youths. He pointed out that goodwill, loving kindness, sympathy, and consideration for others, which are the fundamental principles of the Red Cross, are vital in the development of social harmony.
He revealed that plans are already underway to hold Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the project to cover all townships in Rakhine State, emphasizing that human injuries, caused by natural disasters, armed conflicts, and mines planted in Rakhine State and needing emergency care, can now be assisted with first aid courses learnt here. He also thanked everyone who turned this training into a success.
Next, Ms Christine Burgener, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, spoke words of honour at the event. Dr Maung Maung Myint, President of Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), and Dr Kyaw Hlaing, Executive Director of Centre for Diversity and National Harmony (CDNH) also added their commendations at the course completion.
Dr Aung Thurein, Director from the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor and First Aid for All Training Project In-charge, explained the objectives of the training and tasks being carried out in Rakhine State for the emergence of social harmony.
The closing ceremony was attended by Colonel Htein Lin (Retd), Advisor to the Office of the President, dignitaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor, Executive Committee members of the MRCS, resident representatives from ICRC and IFRC, heads of UN agencies, instructors, and trainees, numbering over a hundred.
First Aid for All Training Project (Phase 1) was implemented from December 6 to 23, 2020, and it was attended by 170 trainees from various communities, including IDPs, from Sittway, Pauktaw, Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Kyaukpyu, and Thandwe townships from Rakhine State. The three-day virtual training for each township was attended by about 30 trainees and coached by instructors from MRCS. Phase 2 of the training project will be held from January 6 to 20, with three-day township-wise training for youths and women from Manaung, Yanbye, An, Toungup, and Gwa townships.
The Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor, the MRCS, and the CDNH collaborated in organizing the First Aid for All Training Project.—MNA